Ask any author about the
inspiration behind their works and you’ll get all kinds of answers. Some
authors are people-watchers, some let music inspire them, some the muse comes
to, uninvited. The reasons for inspiration even vary from book to book, short story
to short story.
For me, one of my biggest
interests in my life has been mythology, and alongside it, art. I even pursued
a degree in art history, lo, many years ago. My favorites pieces were always
(no shock to my friends, I’m sure) artists who themselves were inspired by
Classical mythology.
So when I began kicking
around the idea for what became my debut paranormal romance novel, PASSION’S
SACRED DANCE, I wasn’t exactly sure what the story might entail. Poking through
my collection of books on Mythology, yes, gave me something of an answer. I
knew it was to be a war based on the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, but it was an
art piece that really set the book in motion. During those years that I studied
for my degree, I fell in love with the art of Sandro Botticelli. I enjoy his
work so much, I have a collection of books, postcards and other assorted
goodies which his work graces.
My favorite is his piece La Primavera (or
the Birth of Spring). It hangs on my wall even now. In this piece you have
various gods, prancing around in an idyllic garden, Venus at its center
denoting the world’s interest turning to love with the spring. (You know that
old cliché) To her right, the lovely Flora spills flowers from her skirt as she
dances. Littering the world with beauty. But it was the three graces, dancing
to Venus’s left that always drew my attention. What a wonderful way to
celebrate the light side of the year! It does bring to mind maypole dances, and
Renaissance fair dancers. I even wrote papers about it in school.
However, if you look to the
far left, you will see a figure out of place. This fella I always thought was Mars, the
god of War, and what an odd place for him to show up. So that set the wheels in
motion, what could War be stirring up in those leaves above and why? So when my
characters started chattering in my head about the upcoming beginning of
spring, I heard rumblings of war, and wondered why. Aaron and his warrior
buddies came along and said, “The ancients knew. They had it right. War’s
coming and spring might not. Do you know this girl?” He pointed to the dancers.
“And where the heck do we find her?”
(It was hard for me to tell
him later that I had the interpretation all wrong. The god’s actually Mercury,
not Mars. But messengers are messengers, all the same, right?)
So that’s how Boticelli’s
Primavera tied into the Second Battle of Mag Tuired and became PASSION’S SACRED
DANCE.
Blurb:
Passion’s
Sacred Dance
Battling
mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery.
When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the
attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her
savior in disguise--but can she trust him?
Aaron
intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect
humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what
he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is
sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she
needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if
only they can find it in time.
If the battle
is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years.
Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.
About Juli D. Revezzo:
Juli D. Revezzo has long
been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the
Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a
soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century. Her short fiction has
been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal
Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station
Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But
her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of Independent Authors
Network and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance is her first
romance novel.
If you’d like to read more,
PASSION’S SACRED DANCE, from The Wild Rose Press, is available at Amazon (and
Amazon.co.uk) in the Select program http://smarturl.it/xc5d7a and coming
soon to other e-tailers.
Thank you, Vijaya, for
inviting me here today!
You can find out more about
Juli at her homepage:
On twitter: @julidrevezzo
